In the starting gear of a rank 1 psyker, the book lists as one of the character's starting possessions a "sanctioning brand". I have several ideas as to what this brand is, and where it's located (we are talking some ruthless individuals doing the testing after all) but the only item I find in the core book describing such an item is on an npc in the included adventure, Illumination, and it is an electoo on his face. Any thoughts, ideas, or pointers, will be appreciated. Thanks for the time.

Wrayth

Hallo Wrayth,

I think this thread will help you greatly: www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_foros_discusion.asp .

If you're looking for an in-game effect, i think there is a table for branding effects on the psyker page in the CRB.

Thank you, and he wanted to know if it was an actual brand, and where it would be. The process of sanctioning is what causes the side effects, the brand is the physical mark... so I decided with my player that he has a small brand on his back (left clavicle area) and an electoo on his fore arm.

To me it should be somewhere easily findable, but often somewhere covered up. Yes, some have had it on their face (Illumination) but the psyker in my group has it just where the collar bone meets at the middle (I am sure this has a technical term). There is is not blatantly visible at all times, but is easily found (pull the collar down). The forearm also seems a decent spot (again, long sleeves can cover it, but it is easily checked for).

Psykers are a great evil and subject in most cases to summary execution, especially if they are out of control and posing a threat to the planet they are currently on.

Psykers that are discovered in a state where they haven't yet 'gone rogue' are captured (it is one of the primary responsibilities of a planetary governor to ensure this happens on his world), held by the Adeptus Arbites (presumably in stasis?) until the next Inquisitorial Black Ship arrives to collect up the planet's psyker tithe.

They are transported to Holy Terra where the Schola Psykana makes an assesment of their viability for Imperial service.

Those seen as too weak or dangerous are sacrificed to Golden Throne for the Emperor to absorb their essence and maintain the Astronomican.

Those seen as possessing a certain strength or quality, are instead 'Sanctioned' via the Soul Binding ritual. They are exposed to the Emperor's psychic power and absorb some of his essence and strength. This is so traumatic it destroyed their optic nerves (i'm not sure why the Adeptus Mechanicus doesn't routinely replace these but there you go).

Once Sanctioned thay are considered 'worthy to live out the rest of their lives in the service of the Imperium'. They are in effect slaves. The vast majority of them (90% i seem to remember) are actually given to the Adeptus Astra Telepathica and lifelong service in an Astropathic Choir.

To prove they have been Sanctioned and therefore do not need to be captured to await the next Black Ship, or to be shot on sight, they are branded. In the psyker's own interest, and by tradition of the imperium, this brand is in a highly visible placeso that it cannot be missed and eveyone the psyker meets knows he is a psyker who is safe (relatively) and a loyal Imperial servant.

A sanctioned psyker is indoctrinated by the Adeptus Astra Telepathica to both accept their imperial slavery as their purpose in life and as a moral good. They wear their brand with PRIDE and wouldn't dream of concealing such a badge of honour.

I would contend that if you're actually roleplaying a sanctioned psyker, the following should be the key focus of you character's personality.

1. They are willing and eager slaves to their Imperial service.

2. They have actually communed with the Emperor in the soul binding and it strengthens them imesurably.

3. They face hate and scorn everywhere, and bear it with good grace as they know they were born heretic and mutant and deserve such treatment. It is only by the grace of the emperor they have their life and only a lifetime of good service can repay that gift.

4. And the Soul Binding has saved their soul from the hell of the Warp.

5. The Sanctioning brand is a badge of honour and is worn with pride. The psyker would want everyone to see it an know that they are trustworthy and 'sanctioned to live' by the emperor himself.

Been doing a little research, and the only psykers that I could find that are soul bound to the Emperor are the astropaths. Which has the side effect of sensory overload, burning out the psyker's sight and possibly other senses. All the rest are "merely" sanctioned, a process that, I imagine, involves years of programming, conditioning, and torture. This does not include the specific removal of a psyker's sight. IMO, an Inquisitor would find a newly released sanctioned psyker who had no sight of little use, particularly those of the battle variety, i.e. telekinetics and pyrokinetics. On the other hand, there is, in one of the rpg books (can't remember which right now), mention of vat psykers, so I guess it's a decision up to how the GM wants to run his Inquisitor.

Yep, my bad.

Soul binding is for those not considered strong enough to survive on their own, you're right.

*shame mode engaged* Reminder: Must not post inaccuracies when distracted...

However, the placement of sanction branding and other aspects i talk about i still suggest are useful.

I think the most important aspect of the sanctioned psyker is that they a 'sanctioned' in order to live out their lives in indentured servitude to the Adeptus Terra. This willing acceptance of slavery should be central to all PC psykers, in my opinion.

For me, psykers are some of the most interesting characters in DH to roleplay.

On a side note, AdMech doesn't replace the psyker's eyes because, from what I understand, the astropath's focus on their telepathy would be distracted by being able to see, kind of like the ancient "seers" would bind or blind their own eyes to let their "mind's eye" see more clearly.

Wrayth said:

Possible, though I think another hitch in replacing their sight is it seems the damage isn't just their eyes or their optic nerves. It seems it goes far deeper then that, to the mind and soul possibly. According to Blind, as an Astropath ages, they begin losing their other senses as well. This is probably due to using their powers which burns them out. The stronger ones can last longer sending their thoughts across light years but eventually they all "burn out". This, coupled with the fact that being "soul bound" to their god caused this problem in the first place seems to imply that the damage is mental if not almost spiritual in nature -something that couldn't be fixed through a prosthesis.

Besides that, they don't need to see to do their duty so why give them eyes? ;p

Graver said:

:¬D

Love it Graver!

That's 40k right there!!

My Sanctioned (now Primaris) Psyker has the Malleus Malleficarum brand (hammer of wytches) on the inside of her left ankle. Other side effects of her sanctioning include a programmed auto-response that whenever she is asleep or unconscious a steady stream of the Litany of Protection pours from her mouth (made creepier by the fact that she did not know High Gothic when she started play) and her growth was stunted.

Another Psyker character from my group has his sanctioning brand on his forehead where the "third eye" would be located.